Why Feminist Critics of 'Game of Thrones' Are Wrong

I'm a feminist, of course I'm a feminist, I have a vagina. What person with a vagina wouldn't want equality between men AND women? Which is essentially what feminism means. It's not, burning your bra and not shaving your legs - although I have to say I'm not doing bad living up to that stereotype, but when it comes to Game of Thrones - can everyone just please shut up.

*Spoilers*

Yes, the rape scene between Ramsay, Sansa - and the bystander, 'Reek' was pretty hard to watch and people all over the word are kicking up a stink about it. Yes, of course society and the entertainment industry have a duty of care to their audiences, but what are people suggesting? That rape is never depicted on our screens and we just pretend it doesn't happen? We're supposed to hate Ramsay Bolton and this viscous act only reinforces our loathing of the character. On the other hand... The ranting and raving is being directed at the wrong person here. George RR Martin's 'F*** the po-lice' style, blood thirsty scenes, the Red Wedding being one, certainly don't follow TV and film conventions, but he isn't actually responsible for the rape of Sansa Stark. In more ways than one, the first being, Sansa is a fictional character therefore the rape didn't actually happen; but the second and most important reason being that this rape didn't even happen in the book. It's entirely the fault of the TV show.

The programme has been accused of being anti-feminist and this is, well - despite the fact that GRRM gives us some sort of medieval feudal system - is complete b*ll*cks! How can a programme with Cersei Lannister, a woman who rages against the machine by completely ruling everyone apart from her Dad, not taking sh*t from anyone, sh*gging her own brother and killing the king, be accused of being anti-feminist? Again, it's the age old debate; feminism is subjective. Just because something doesn't adhere to your exact opinions on the matter and because the author is a man, it doesn't mean it's anti-feminist. Men can be feminists too. George RR Martin said to The Telegraph way back in 2013, the early days of the TV show, 'To me, being a feminist is about treating men and women the same.'

Then there's Arya Stark. There's nothing anti-feminist about her. She's becoming some sort of informant for the many-faced-God and she's pretty much a top assassin. She's got her own personalised sword and left The Hound to die. Another bad ass lass who doesn't take shit from anybody! Brienne of Tarth anyone? Yes, okay, she had to be saved from rapists by a one handed king-slayer, but at the end of the day, she's hardcore. An androgynous, loyal, ridiculously tall woman who isn't exactly a damsel in distress. I'm sure she's going to save Sansa too, so that's another point for feminism - Sisters are doin' it for themselves!

Let's not forget about Daenerys, who despite being initially controlled by the men in her life, has risen to the top pretty much by herself - her dragons don't count as men because well, they're not - and she has no qualms about killing people who get in her way, handing out mercy where it's needed and entertains the opinions of the girl from Hollyoaks even though she was once a slave and doesn't deem herself worthy. Again, a woman with more balls than a lot of the men in the programme.

I don't think I need to go on. Yes, the show hasn't been kind to women, rape scenes, forced marriages and a baby killed in the womb, but nobody had been kind to the men either. Theon was tortured and no longer has his lady-lover, Robb Stark's body was paraded about with his wolf's head stuck on it, Ned was literally axed in the first series and Ser Jorah Mormont is humiliated at pretty much every chance Daenerys gets. Let's not forget the outcast bastards and the 'half-man.'

So basically - shut up your whining about the best programme that's ever existed. Winter is coming. Or has it pretty much just arrived?